Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending July 4, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the summer holiday
week ending July 4, 2010:
3:15 pm July 6 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS, PROMISES PROMISES each enjoy $1 million+ box office
3:16 pm July 6 - Sold-out WICKED still Broadway's top weekly grossing show: $1,620,851. Average ticket price: $112.00
3:17 pm July 6 - FENCES still Broadway's top grossing play taking in $1,164,529 last week, up $26,000 week over week
3:18 pm July 6 - FENCES is #1 Broadway show in terms of average ticket price: $132.65. Top tickets selling for $425.00
3:19 pm July 6 - FENCES, which ends Broadway run on Sunday, also has Broadway's highest capacity. Standing room only at 101.7%
3:20 pm July 6 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE had Broadway's lowest gross $171,942 & average ticket price $39.69. Capacity still at 73.2%
3:21 pm July 6 - COME FLY AWAY had Broadway's lowest capacity last week: 43% (drop of 11.6%). Gross: $515,296. Av tix priced: $93.01
3:22 pm July 6 - Just-closed NEXT FALL has week's biggest capacity increase of 25.5% to 90.1%. Grosses: $257,274. Av tix priced: $60.58
3:22 pm July 6 - IN THE HEIGHTS has Broadway's biggest capacity drop of 12.8% to 69.3%. Grossed $515,540. Average ticket price: $69.20
3:24 pm July 6 - Overall, Broadway's week over week grosses were down 9% or nearly $1.7 million to $18,840,132
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: average ticket price, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Come Fly Away, Everyday Rapture, Fences, In The Heights, Next Fall, Wicked
Next Show To FallAs I had predicted last week,
critical darling Next Fall becomes the first post-
Tony Awards casualty in
posting its closing notice.
Next Fall walked away from the Tonys with no wins, yet the show was already stumbling and falling at the box office with weeks of
very low sales in what is Broadway's
tiniest house.
While my prediction came true, I don't relish it for one moment -- even for a show
I didn't much care for -- because it means that the play's hard-working actors and crew won't have jobs. But the blow here is particularly hard.
According to
The New York Times:
Next Fall cost about $2 million to mount, and one of its lead producers, Richard Willis, said that the show will close at a total loss to its producers and investors.
Among those producers were
Elton John and
David Furnish, whose names were often included above the title.
Maybe if the show weren't so cliché-ridden or preachy, ironically about how narrow-minded people of faith purportedly are, it could have attracted a much wider audience.
Next Fall will close on July 4 after 26 previews and 132 regular performances.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Closing Notices, David Furnish, Elton John, Next Fall, Play
Broadway: What Shows Are Closing?Good thing I didn't make a bet to eat my
Next Fall Playbill if it didn't post closing notices.
A couple days ago,
I had predicted that due to its lackluster box office performance in the already tiny
Helen Hayes Theatre coupled with no Tony wins that it would likely shutter soon. But
its producers say, for now anyway, that it's their goal to remain open through summer.
UPDATE (June 23, 2010) - Next Fall has posted its closing notice for July 4.So what shows
are closing?
So far, none as a direct result of Sunday night's Tony Awards.
In fact, this year's Best Play
Red announced just yesterday that its limited run would close
as scheduled on June 27, which is really too bad because it offers those fortunate enough to see it two of the year's most magnificent stage performances (
Alfred Molina and
Eddie Redmayne). That is, unless you count those being offered over at the
Cort Theatre for this year's Best Revival of a Play
Fences with the two other stellar performances (
Denzel Washington and particularly
Viola Davis).
Fences currently remains on schedule to close its limited engagement on July 11.
But here is the full list of Broadway shows currently scheduled to close:
June 27, 2010:
Hair - Al Hirschfeld Theatre
(
SOB Review: *** out of ****)
On June 9,
it was announced that the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Music otherwise known as "The American Tribal Love Rock Musical" would shutter on June 27, 2010, after 29 previews and 519 regular performances (over and above those
Hair extensions in Central Park during the summer of 2008).
Most of this revival of
Hair's original cast may be seen in
London through September 4. Plus, a
tour commences this October at the
Shubert Performing Arts Center in New Haven, Connecticut.
Red - John Golden Theatre
(
SOB Review: **** out of ****)
An import from London's
Donmar Warehouse, this year's Tony Award-winning Best Play has only been scheduled for a very limited run. That engagement will conclude as scheduled on June 27, 2010.
Red will have played 22 previews and 101 regular performances.
Look for
John Logan's work to be mounted by regional theatres throughout the United States over the next couple years, albeit with different direction and casts.
Sondheim On Sondheim - Studio 54
(
SOB Review: **1/2 out of ****)
This limited engagement initially was set to finish this past Sunday but was extended by two weeks. When it closes on June 27, 2010, this revue will have played 37 previews and 76 regular performances.
As for a life beyond? Unless there's a tour, which seems highly unlikely, it's hard to imagine regional mountings given how a major portion of the show incorporates
Stephen Sondheim's own words via video. Plus, there are already several other Sondheim songbook revues out there.
July 11, 2010:
Everyday Rapture - American Airlines Theatre
(
SOB Review: *** out of ****)
The last-minute, surprise hit run that managed to garner Tony nominations has always been a limited run and is scheduled to close on July 11, 2010. When it shutters,
Everyday Rapture will have played 11 previews and 85 regular performances.
Although
Sherie Rene Scott is portraying a semi-fictionalized version of herself, there's no reason why enterprising regional theatre companies couldn't pick up this show
a la Hunter Bell and
Jeff Bowen's semi-autobiographical
[title of show]. Yet Scott herself
seems to be keeping the door open to returning to her character for a tour, although "it wouldn't be for another year."
Fences - Cort Theatre
(
SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)
Director
Kenny Leon's camp at this year's Tony-winning Best Revival of a Play has been so silent over the past few days that you can't help but wonder if they're secretly working toward extending their limited run past July 11, 2010, which is nearly sold out. Or are they waiting to announce something else like a new cast and/or a tour?
If the show closes as scheduled, it will have enjoyed 13 previews and a mere 80 regular performances. But why do I have this hunch....
August 15, 2010:
Lend Me A Tenor - Music Box Theatre
(
SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)
The single most hilarious Broadway show I saw all year was initially an open-ended run. But on May 21, a
closing notice was posted for August 15, 2010, which marks the end-date for its ensemble's contracts. Tony-nominated for Best Revival of a Play,
Lend Me A Tenor will have played 25 previews and 153 regular performances.
There's no word on any plans for this production beyond Broadway, but
Ken Ludwig's farce is already regularly mounted by regional and community theatres.
August 21, 2010:
Race - Ethel Barrymore Theatre
(
SOB Review: *1/2 out of ****)
Yesterday,
Eddie Izzard,
Dennis Haysbert and
Afton C. Williamson join the cast of this
David Mamet play as replacements for
James Spader,
David Alan Grier and
Kerry Washington, respectively (
Richard Thomas remains). Currently, the show is scheduled to close August 21, 2010, after 23 previews and 297 regular performances.
Although the show has already recouped its initial investment, don't be surprised to see it close earlier if the box office doesn't experience a bounce from its new cast.
August 22, 2010:
South Pacific - Vivian Beaumont Theatre
(
SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)
On February 19,
it was announced that this 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Musical would close on August 22, 2010. But when it does, it will have played 37 previews and 1,000 regular performances. The show will go out with a bang as original cast member
Kelli O'Hara returns August 10 and again appears opposite Tony-winner
Paulo Szot (rumors that
Matthew Morrison may also return remain just that -- rumors).
Earlier this year, I caught the
South Pacific national tour and I can tell you that it is nearly as good in every way as the Broadway mounting; that tour will last through 2011. Additionally, when the closing notice was posted, it was
also announced that there are plans to bring the production to London and Australia.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Broadway, Closing Notices, Closings, Everyday Rapture, Fences, Hair, Lend Me A Tenor, Next Fall, Race, Red, Sondheim On Sonheim, South Pacific
Broadway Box Office Tweets Tony Edition - Week Ending June 13, 2010
Broadway Box Office Tweets Tony Edition - Week Ending June 13, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
This past week was a particularly good one for the Great White Way as box office totals swelled by just over $2 million more than the previous week, no doubt as audiences flocked to see all the Tony nominated shows prior to Sunday night's award ceremonies.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending June 13, 2010:
4:30 pm June 13 - WICKED/LION KING/ADDAMS FAMILY/BILLY ELLIOT/PROMISES PROMISES/JERSEY BOYS/FENCES each grossed $1 million+ last week
4:31 pm June 13 - Sold-out WICKED last week's top grossing Broadway show with $1,614,485. Average ticket price: $111.56
4:32 pm June 13 - Standing room only FENCES week's top grossing play $1,057,269 & week's highest capacity: 101.5%. Av tx priced $120.65
4:33 pm June 13 - A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC was week's highest priced ticket. Av price: $122.26. Grosses $911,429 on 100.1% capacity
4:34 pm June 13 - COLLECTED STORIES had last week's lowest gross: $117,408 & last week's lowest av tix priced: $30.55 (73.9% capacity)
4:35 pm June 13 - RACE had last week's lowest capacity of 59.1% grossing $358,328 & average tickets priced $71.64.
4:36 pm June 13 - AMERICAN IDIOT had biggest increase in capacity. Up 20.5% to 73.3%. Grosses w/av tix priced $86,66
4:37 pm June 13 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE & FENCES had week's "biggest" capacity drop of .1% & .2% respectively. Every other show gained
4:38 pm June 13 - WICKED stayed steady in 100% capacity week over week. They don't sell standing room only tickets
4:39 pm June 13 - Overall, Broadway box office was up 9.14% week over week. Grosses up more than $2 million to $21,958,013
6:14 pm June 13 - NEXT FALL producer Richard Willis
hopes to keep show open through summer despite no Tony wins & low box office demand
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: A Little Night Music, American Idiot, Broadway Box Office, Collected Stories, Fences, Next Fall, Race, Tony Awards, Wicked
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending June 6, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending June 6, 2010:
4:46 pm June 6 - WICKED, LION KING, PROMISES PROMISES, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT each earned $1 million+ last week at Broadway box office
4:47 pm June 6 - JERSEY BOYS has fallen below $1 million gross for first time in years grossing just $963,853 playing to 88.6% capacity
4:48 pm June 6 - ADDAMS FAMILY was also among shows grossing more than $1 million last week, too: $1,278,089 with 94.4% capacity
4:49 pm June 6 - Sold-out WICKED continues reign as Broadway box office's highest grossing show: $1,570,925 with av tix priced $108.55
4:50 pm June 6 - FENCES trifecta: week's top grossing play $1,024,317, highest average ticket price: $116.72, highest capacity: 101.7%
4:51 pm June 6 - NEXT FALL week's lowest grossing show ($116,150) & average ticket price ($47.12). Played to just 52.3% capacity.
4:52 pm June 6 - Week's lowest capacity was at HAIR, attracting 46.5%. Grosses $351,992 with average ticket price of $67.01
4:54 pm June 6 - In a down box office week overall, BEHANDING IN SPOKANE increased capacity by 3.6% to 72.9%. Grosses $483,113
4:56 pm June 6 - Biggest decline in capacity was AMERICAN IDIOT, losing 21.9% audience to 52.8%. Grosses down sharply to $612,380
5:00 pm June 6 - Last week, only FENCES and WICKED sold out completely. LION KING came close at 98.8% capacity
5:02 pm June 6 - AMERICAN IDIOT, FELA!, MEMPHIS, MILLION $ QUARTET (all Tony Best Musical nominees) lost 10% or more of their audiences
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: American Idiot, Box Office, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Fences, Grosses, Jersey Boys, Next Fall, Wicked
Next Fall (The SOB Review) – Helen Hayes Theatre, New York, New York
*1/2 (out of ****)Neil Simon has nothing on performer-turned-playwright
Geoffrey Nauffts in terms of writing about a very odd couple.
In his manipulative
Next Fall, two gay men are inexplicably drawn to each other. One is Adam (
Patrick Breen) a rabid atheist with contempt for people of faith oozing out of every pore. The other, Luke (
Patrick Heusinger) is a devout, yet simpleton Christian. Defying all logic, these two move in together, compromising their own core values, although Luke (quite conveniently) is never really able to back up his beliefs.
Unfortunately, from there the plot turns into a bad hospital melodrama over whether Adam should be able to have visitation rights in seeing his injured partner as Luke’s fundamentalist parents hold sway over the waiting room. Nothing infuriated me more than Adam’s supposed close friends advising him not to rock the boat by trying to see Luke, in part because it would mean he’d be outing his closeted partner to his family. Seriously, with friends like these, who needs enemies?!
But what was most aggravating was that rather than providing a thoughtful examination of two points of view on religion, Nauffts inadvertently becomes the pot calling the kettle black. Sure, he preaches a good game about tolerance, but then he proceeds to paint people of faith with the broadest of ugly, stereotypical strokes. Here, he dismisses them as fools, bigots or a little of both. Apparently, there are no religious moderates in Nauffts’ narrow worldview.
Therein lies the shame of
Next Fall. If only Nauffts were able to display a little more tolerance of his own, then he may have the ability to reach a broader audience. That includes thoughtful people of faith like President Barack Obama
who can appreciate the inherent injustice of denying visitation rights to gay couples.
Instead, ironically enough,
Next Fall amounts to nothing more than preaching to a rather tiny choir.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. Labels: Broadway, Geoffrey Nauffts, Next Fall, Patrick Breen, Patrick Heusinger, Play, The SOB Review
